5 phone features that beat the iPhone 6

How some Android and Windows models are one-upping Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook announces the iPhone 6 during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 9, 2014 in Cupertino, Calif.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook pulled out all the stops to generate buzz around the latest, greatest iPhone 6 models. But a growing army of competitors, mostly Android models, now boast some features that make even the most ardent Apple
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devotees envious.

The iPhone 6 (with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens) is the most aggressive move yet to move into the market of larger Android phones. Apple’s overall market share of the smartphone market still hovers under 50% in the U.S., according to data released this month by market researcher comScore. Android devices fell 1 percentage point to 51.5% of the U.S. smartphone market for the three months ending July 2014, according to data released last week, while Apple’s share of the smartphone market rose 1 percentage point to 42.4% in the same period.

While Apple offers two models in several configurations, the $199 iPhone 6 and $299 iPhone 6 Plus, there are numerous Android devices from multiple manufacturers. “It may seem daunting for the uninitiated,” says Louis Ramirez, senior editor at DealNews.com, “but there’s an entire world of Android smartphones out there.” He recommends consumers ask themselves when shopping for an Android: “Do I want a powerful phone that will let me stream Netflix without so much as a hiccup? Do I prefer long battery life? Do I want a phablet? Or do I want something with a little bit of each?”

Google operates on an open platform, so it’s up to the device makers and the carriers to bring the latest version of Android to their devices, says Ben Thompson, an industry observer who writes about technology at Stratechery.com. “I prefer Apple because of its safer ecosystem and Apple Store support,” he says. Android phones have also been more problematic in terms of malware and rogue apps, he says. In an effort to clamp down on bad apps, Google
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introduced a feature in 2012 code-named “Bouncer” to scan apps for malware.

Here are 5 phones experts recommend, each with at least one iPhone-beating feature:

Sony

Xperia Z1: Completely waterproof

Drop Sony’s latest phone in the toilet and the only price you’ll pay is the indignity of fishing it out. The Xperia Z3 — the successor to the six-month-old Z2 — is suitable for those who give their phones a hard time, says Mark Spoonauer, editor in chief at LaptopMag.com. It’s fast and the PlayStation 4 app is preloaded, but its display and camera aren’t as high quality as the iPhone 6. Sony claims that the Xperia Z3 has a two-day battery life. The iPhone 6 lasts 10 ours of LTE browsing (same as the iPhone 5S), while the iPhone 6 Plus lasts 12 hours. The Xperia Z3 will be available through T-Mobile in the U.S. this fall.

Motorola

Droid Maxx: 48 hours of battery life

“Motorola is the king of battery life,” Ramirez says. The company says the Droid Maxx gives 48 hours of “mixed use” on one charge. “That’s an epic run time,” Ramirez says, though that doesn’t mean 48 hours of talking on the phone or streaming videos. “Try doing that with your iPhone,” he says. The iPhone 5S lasts a workday for most people, but Apple says it varies depending on use. Since its launch, however, online forums complaining about the iPhone 5S’s choppy battery life have popped up. The Droid Maxx costs just $49.99 on a two-year contract with Verizon, reduced from $200 earlier this year.

Samsung

Galaxy S5: air gestures and eye roll

One man’s gimmick is another man’s cool feature. Samsung’s Galaxy S5 and its predecessor have taken the pinch-and-zoom to the next level. With air gestures, users can control their device by making movements with their hand above a sensor; the phone also detects their eyes with the camera so the screen stays on when one is looking at it. “It lets you wave your hands to pick up calls or read content on the phone by tilting your head,” says Jeff Haynes, editor at TechBargains.com. It sells for $610 without a contract or $25.40 over 24 months with a contract on T-Mobile.

Nokia

Lumia 1020: 41-megapixel camera

Nokia’s Lumia 1020 ($99 on contract through AT&T down from $199 earlier this year) uses Microsoft’s
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Windows and has a 41-megapixel image camera sensor; the iPhone 6 has 8 megapixels, the same as the iPhone 5S, but also has a new sensor and improved digital and optical image stabilization technology. It has the “sharpest photos ever from a phone,” according to LapTopMag.com. The Lumia also has manual controls like shutter speed, white balance, focus, exposure and flash and a digital zoom display. Still, not everyone will see the difference when sharing photos online.

Google

Nexus 5: $0 upfront with a contract

The Nexus 5 from LG costs nothing upfront with a contract or $16.50 a month over 24 months with T-Mobile and $396 without. Nexus are also among the first to receive software updates from Google’s operating system. It has a 5-inch display and 8 megapixel camera. The downside: the display is cloudier than the iPhone’s, Spoonauer says. “The Nexus 5 is much cheaper than other phones without a contract yet still fast with great specs.” For Apple fans, the older plastic iPhone 5C is now free with a contract from AT&T
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, Sprint
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and Verizon
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. Analysts expect the Nexus 6 soon.

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